Child activity center

ABSTRACT

A child activity center is disclosed that includes an adjustable table and chair. The adjustable table and chair are configured to have their heights adjusted quickly and easily without the requirement of any type of tool. The table and chair include adjustable leg extension members that are removably attached to main leg extension members that allow the height of the table and chair to be readily and quickly adjusted without the necessity of tools. In addition, the individual components of the table and chair are snap fit together to such that the table and chair may be assembled out of the box without the requirement of tools.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/766,652 filed on Feb. 3,2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to children's activity centersand more particularly, to a children's' activity center that is capableof adjusting in height as children grow.

2. Related Art

Typical injection molded activity centers designed for young children,for example from ages 3-6, are designed in a one size fits all manner bycertain age groups. Children working at these activity centers tend toconcentrate better if they are comfortable. This is especiallybeneficial in learning environments and institutions or at times when itis desired for children to concentrate and focus for learning purposesat home. In these learning environments, a one chair fits all types ofchildren is not advantageous for some children. In addition, a one tablefits all arrangement is also not advantageous for all children. Despitethese varying needs, institutions and learning centers still use a onesize fits all arrangement. All children grow and develop differentlythereby making one child's respective needs different from the next.

As such, a need exists for a children's table and chair in which theheights of the table and chairs may be quickly and easily adjusted tofit the child's individual needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a system, method and apparatus foradjusting a height of a table and chair that form part of a children'sactivity center. Other systems, methods, features and advantages of theinvention will be, or will become apparent to one with skill in the artupon examination of the following figures and detailed description. Itis intended that all such additional systems, methods, features andadvantages be included within this description, be within the scope ofthe invention, and be protected by the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasisinstead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a child activity center.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of the adjustable legs of the childactivity center.

FIG. 3 illustrates a general assembly view of the adjustable chair.

FIG. 4 illustrates the adjustable table at various height settings.

FIG. 5 illustrates a general assembly view of the adjustable chair ofthe child activity center.

FIG. 6 illustrates the adjustable chair at various height settings.

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of a representative male insert member.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of the representative male insert member.

FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of the representative female insertmember.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention discloses a child activitycenter 100 that is designed to grow or adjust as children grow. Thechild activity center 100 includes at least one adjustable table 102 andat least one adjustable chair 104. As set forth in greater detail below,the adjustable table 102 and chair 104 are preferentially designed sothat the physical heights of the adjustable table 102 and chair 104 maybe adjusted so that as young children grow, from the approximate ages of2-6 years old in the illustrated embodiments, the table height of thetable 102 and/or the chair height of the chair 104 may be readilyadjusted without the use of any tools. The adjustable table 102 and/orchair 104 are also beneficial to children having different physicalcharacteristics or needs within a single classroom. The adjustable table102 and chair 104 may quickly and easily be adjusted to properly fit theindividual characteristics of a respective child.

The adjustable table 102 includes a table top portion 106 and a righttable leg 108 and a left table leg 110. The right and left table legs108, 110 are removably connected with the table top portion 106 so thatthe adjustable table 102 may quickly and easily be assembled. Theadjustable table 102 also includes a flip lid 112, which, as set forthbelow, may be designed such that each side of the flip lid 112 may beused by a child while the child is sitting at the adjustable table 102.At least one utensil tray 114 is also be included in the table top 106allowing children to place utensils, such as pencils, pens, crayons,markers, and dry-erase markers, in the utensil tray 114 while not in useby the child. The utensil tray 114 comprises a generally oval shapedrecess in the table top 106 at a side portion of the table top 106.

The adjustable chair 104 includes a back rest portion 116, a seatportion 118, a right chair leg 120 and a left chair leg 122. The backrest 116 may be removably connected with the seat 118. In addition, theseat 118 may be removably connected with the right and left chair legs120, 122. As set forth in greater detail below, like the table legs 108,110, the chair legs 120, 122 are designed to adjust up and down so thatthe height of the chair 104 may be adjusted to fit a respective child'sphysical characteristics.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a general assembly view of one of the legs108, 110 of the adjustable table 102 is illustrated that sets forth eachcomponent that may be used in an illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention. The table legs 108, 110 include an upper support segment 200and a pair of opposing leg extension segments 202. The two leg extensionsegments 202 extend downwardly and away from the upper support segment200 toward a ground point at a predetermined angle in relation to theupper support segment 200.

In the illustrated embodiment, each leg extension segment 202 includes alower inner recessed connector portion 204 that includes a plurality ofconnector mounts 206 that protrude outwardly from an inside portion 208of the leg extension segment 202. A generally rectangular shaped maleinsert member 210 is connected to the connector mounts 206 usingconventional connection methods such as by screws or welding forexample. The male insert members 210 include a plurality of apertures212 that allow the male insert members 210 to be connected with theconnector mounts 206. The male insert members 210 include a plurality ofretention clips 214 that protrude outwardly from an upper surface of themale insert members 210. The retention clips 214 are oriented along avertical axis of the male insert members 210.

The table 102 also includes a pair of adjustable leg extension segments216 that include a female insert member 218 connected to an insidesurface 220 of the adjustable leg extension segments 216. The femaleinsert members 218 include a plurality of apertures 219 that allow thefemale insert members 218 to be connected to connector mounts 206 of theadjustable leg extension segments 216. The female insert member 218 maybe connected with the adjustable leg extension segments 216 usingconventional connection methods such as by screws or welding forexample. The female insert members 218 include a plurality of clipreceiving apertures 222 that run along a vertical axis of the femaleinsert members 216.

When assembled, the adjustable leg extension segments 216 areremovably/adjustably connected with the leg extension segments 202 ofthe table legs 108, 110. The retention clips 214 of the male insertmembers 210 removably fit within the clip receiving apertures 222 of thefemale insert members 218 such that an inner upper surface 221 of theretention clips 214 engage a respective upper edge 223 of at least oneclip engagement surface 225 formed by the clip receiving apertures 222.The retention clips 214 are designed such that they provide a frictionfit on a surface of the clip engagement surface 225. Since the retentionclips 214 are located in the leg extension segments 202, when theadjustable leg extension segments 216 are connected to the leg extensionsegments 202, downward force applied to the table 102 causes theretention clips 214 to securely hold the adjustable leg extensionsegments 216 on the leg extension segments 202. The inner upper surface221 of the retention clips 214 engage the upper edge 223 of the clipengagement surfaces 225 and a portion of the retention clips 214 engagea surface of the clip engagement surfaces 225.

To remove the adjustable leg extension segments 216 from the legs 108,110 to adjust the height of the adjustable table 102, upward force isapplied to a lower surface 224 of the adjustable leg extension segments216. This causes the retention clips 214 of the male insert members 210to move upwardly so that they release from the clip engagement surfaces225. The retention clips 214 may then be removed from the clip receivingapertures 222 thereby disconnecting the adjustable leg extensionsegments 216 from the leg extension segments 202. The adjustable legextension segments 216 may then be adjusted up or down on the maleinsert members 210 to thereby adjust the overall height of the table102. See FIG. 4. The adjustable table 102 may be adjusted to multipledifferent heights. A felt or rubber pad 226 may be connected with thelower surface 224 of the adjustable leg extension segments 216.

Referring to FIG. 3, an assembly view of the adjustable table 102 isillustrated. Each flip lid 112 includes a white board 250 and a mainbody 252. The white board 250 is connected to a recessed portion 254 ofthe main body 252. The white board 250 may be connected to the recessedportion 254 using a plurality of attachment members 256 or glued orintegrally formed as a part of the main body 252. The white board 250allows children to use dry erase markers to write or draw duringactivities. A lower surface 258 of the main body 252 is flat so thatchildren may use the lower surface 258 to write, draw or color on. Assuch, each flip lid 112 has two sides that may be used for activities.

The flip lids 112 are removably positioned in a recessed portion 260 ofthe table top 106. The recessed portion 260 defines a generallyrectangular shaped storage area in which various items may be stored,such as pencils, markers, crayons, books and so forth. The flip lids 112rest on an upper edge 262 of the recessed portion 260. Although two fliplids 112 are illustrated in the figures, it should be appreciated thatonly one flip lid 112 may be included in other embodiments.

Referring collectively to FIGS. 1-3, the upper support segment 200 ofthe legs 108, 110 is designed to snap fit into a leg receiving segment270 located and formed on the underside of the table top 106. This is sothat the entire table 102 may be packaged unassembled in a compactpackage. The table 102 may be assembled without the assistance of anytools as all components come pre-assembled and all of the components“snap-fit” together. Although the male and female insert members 210,218 are illustrated as separate components, it should be appreciatedthat the leg extension segments 202 of the legs 108, 110 and theadjustable leg extension segments 216 may be molded or manufactured toinclude male and female insert members 210, 218. In the illustratedembodiment, the male and female insert members 210, 218 are manufacturedfrom sheet metal or the like to add strength. However, as set forthabove, the leg extension segments 202 and the adjustable leg extensionsegments 216 may be integrally molded to include retention clips 214 andclip receiving apertures 222.

Referring to FIG. 4, the adjustable table 102 includes extendable legs108, 110. Three representative table height settings are illustrated inFIG. 4. Additional height settings are available but have not beenillustrated as the principles taught by the present invention can beillustrated showing three available height settings. The interlockingleg members 202, 216 are configured to be securely connected andunconnected to one another at various height settings without the use oftools. The upper support segment 200 of the legs 108, 110 include legextension segments 202 that are capable of securely being connected withthe adjustable leg extension segments 216 while at the same time beingcapable of being easily removed and adjusted to different heightsettings. It does not require tools to change the height settings of thetable 102.

Referring to FIG. 5, the adjustable chair 104 of the representativechild activity center 100 is illustrated. The adjustable chair 104includes a pair of opposing chair frame segments 300. The chair framesegments 300 include a seat or base segment 302, a pair of downwardlyextending leg segments 304, and an upwardly extending chair back segment306. The seat segment 302 is generally rectangular in shape and isdesigned to snap fit together with a lower portion 308 of the seat 118.The seat 118 includes a frame engagement section 310 located in thelower portion 308 of the seat 118 that receives the seat segment 302.The seat segment 302 snap fits into the frame engagement section 310 ofthe seat 118. Once snap fit in place, the seat 118 is securely engagedwith the chair frame segments 300.

The downwardly extending leg segments 304 extend downwardly andoutwardly from the seat segment 302 a predetermined distance at apredetermined angle. The leg segments 304 include a male insert member312. Each chair frame segment 300 has a pair of adjustable leg extensionsegments 314 that include a female insert member 316 that is designed tobe releaseably connected with the male insert member 312 of the legsegments 304. As with the adjustable table 102, the leg segments 304,314 of the adjustable chair 104 are designed to be connected andreconnected to one another so that the height of the adjustable chair104 may be readily adjusted to fit the needs and requirements of anindividual child. A detailed discussion of the manner in which the legsegments 304, 314 are adjusted is not necessary as it has beenpreviously been discussed with respect to the adjustable table 102. Asapparent from the figures, although sized somewhat differently, thecomponents of the legs 120, 122 of the chair 104 have the same design asthe components of the legs 108, 110 of the table 102.

The upwardly extending chair back segments 306 of the seat framesegments 300 are used to attach the chair back rest 116 to the chairframe segments 300. The upwardly extending chair back segment 306 isconnected with the seat segment 302 by an elbow shaped segment 321. Thechair back rest 116 snap fits to the upwardly extending chair backsegments 306. A plurality of snap fit protrusions 320 extendingoutwardly from an outer surface of the upwardly extending chair backsegments 306 snap fit into apertures 322 located in the chair back rest116. As such, the chair back rest 116 snap fits onto the upwardlyextending chair back segments 306 of the chair frame segments 300. Thisis beneficial during shipping, assembly, and disassembly because notools are required. A lower portion 330 of the adjustable leg extensionsegments 314 may include a felt or rubber pad 332 that helps stabilizethe legs of the chair 104. The back rest 116 of the adjustable chair 104may also include a hand holder 334 that allows the chair 104 to bepicked up and moved easily.

Referring to FIG. 6, the adjustable chair 104 includes extendable legs304, 314. Three representative chair height settings are illustrated inFIG. 6. Additional height settings are available but have not beenillustrated as the principles taught by the present invention can beillustrated showing three available height settings. The interlockingleg members 304, 314 are configured to be securely connected andunconnected to one another at various height settings. The main uppersegment 300 of the legs 304, 314 include leg extension segments 314 thatare capable of securely being connected with the adjustable legextension segments 304 while at the same time being capable of beingeasily removed and adjusted to different height settings. It does notrequire tools to change the height settings of the chair 104.

Referring to FIG. 1, the child activity center 100 includes anadjustable table 102 and chair 104 that easily and readily adjusts tosatisfy the individual requirements of a child that uses the activitycenter 100. The adjustable table and chair 102, 104 have also beendesigned to be stackable. The table 102 has been designed such that eachtable 102 may easily be stacked on other tables 102. In addition, thechair 104 has been designed such that each chair 104 may easily bestacked on other chairs 104. This is beneficial for institutions such aschurches, daycares, schools, and other educational or child relatedfacilities.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a representative male insert member 210 thatmay be utilized in the present invention is illustrated. As previouslyset forth, the male insert member 210 includes a plurality of retentionclips 214. In this embodiment, the retention clips 214 are made fromspring steel so that the retention clips 214 naturally tend to go backto their unattached state. This helps the retention clips 214 secure theadjustable leg extension segment 216 to the leg segment 202.

Referring to FIGS. 7-9, the female insert member 218 includes aplurality of apertures 222 that the retention clips 214 fit within. Theinner upper portion 221 of the retention clips 214 rest on the upperportions 223 of an engagement surface 225 formed by the apertures 222.An engagement portion 275 of the retention clips 214 provides force tothe engagement surfaces 225 to hold the respective pieces together whenconnected to one another.

While the present invention has been described with reference tospecific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that variousmodifications and changes may be made to these embodiments withoutdeparting from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are tobe regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

1. An activity center, comprising: a table including a table top havingleg segments extending downwardly from a lower surface of the table top,wherein the leg segments have adjustable leg segments adjustablyconnected with the leg segments that are selectively configured toadjust a table height of the table; and a chair including a seat segmenthaving chair leg segments extending downwardly from the lower surface ofthe seat segment, wherein the chair leg segments have adjustable chairleg segments adjustably connected with the chair leg segments that areselectively configured to adjust a chair height of the chair.
 2. Theactivity center of claim 1, wherein the table top includes at least oneflip lid removably connected with an upper surface of the table top. 3.The activity center of claim 2, wherein a first upper surface of theflip lid includes a dry erase board, wherein a second lower surface ofthe flip lid includes a flat writing surface.
 4. The activity center ofclaim 1, wherein the table top includes a recessed storage area locatedin an upper surface of the table top, wherein a flip lid covers therecessed storage area.
 5. The activity center of claim 1, wherein thetable top includes a pair of table top leg receiving segments that areconnected with a leg frame segment of the table top leg body receivingsegments, wherein the pair of table top leg body receiving segments snapfit within the table top leg body receiving segments.
 6. An adjustabletable, comprising: a table top; a pair of fixed leg segments connectedwith the table top, wherein the pair of fixed leg segments includedownwardly extending support segments; an adjustable leg segmentconnected with each downwardly extending support segment; and whereinthe adjustable leg segments and the downwardly extending supportsegments include a tool-less connection arrangement that allows theadjustable leg segments to be removably connected with each ofdownwardly extending segments.
 7. The adjustable table of claim 6,wherein the pair of fixed leg segments snap fit into the table top. 8.The adjustable table of claim 6, wherein the table top includes at leastone utensil tray.
 9. The adjustable table of claim 6, wherein the tabletop includes at least one storage area recessed within an upper portionof the table top.
 10. The adjustable table of claim 9, wherein a fliplid covers the at least one storage area.
 11. The adjustable table ofclaim 6, wherein the adjustable leg segments are secured to thedownwardly extending support segments such that the application of apredetermined amount of force in a direction opposite a normal useposition of the table top causes said adjustable leg segments to detachfrom the downwardly extending support segments.
 12. The adjustable childtable of claim 6, wherein the downwardly extending support segmentsinclude a male member that releaseably engages a female member of theadjustable leg segments.
 13. An adjustable chair, comprising: abackrest; a pair of chair leg frames, wherein said backrest is connectedwith an upper portion of said pair of chair leg frames; a seat connectedwith said pair of chair leg frames; a plurality of leg extensionsegments removably connected with an inside surface of said pair ofchair legs such that said extension segments may be adjusted therebyadjusting a height of the adjustable chair.